Ralph Borde: Focus on the care and education of orphaned children

“The MSt in Social Innovation at Cambridge, through the strong programme leadership, faculty and an amazing group of peers has enhanced my approach to creating social change making it deeper, more patient & skilful, and hopefully the most impactful it has ever been.”

I applied for the MSt in Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge because I was at a pivotal inflection point in my social innovation journey. After founding an NGO and dedicating 18 years to developing a paradigm-changing model for the care and empowerment of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC), I reached a juncture where formalising and scaling this model on both national and international levels became imperative. To achieve this, I needed to deepen and broaden my understanding of social theories, grasp the underlying reasons for the social contexts we aimed to transform and comprehend various organisational structures and frameworks essential for operationalising this depth and scale of change. 

My extensive research into programmes that could facilitate this goal led me to the MSt in Social Innovation at Cambridge. The programme appealed to me for four critical reasons.

• First, it was crafted by expert practitioners in social work who comprehended the complexity and iterative nature of creating social change. This practical insight was crucial for my work.
• Second, the programme’s emphasis on world-class research exposed me to robust social change models and the methodologies underpinning them, providing a solid theoretical foundation.
• Third, based at the Cambridge Judge Business School, the programme ensured that the learning was grounded in the practicalities of implementing real ventures and projects.
• Finally, the opportunity to be part of a diverse cohort of peers from around the world promised a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives that could challenge and enhance my thinking. 

The course content has proven to be exceptionally relevant and beneficial to my work. The macro-level, theory-based perspective has enabled me to analyse the social problems we address from various theoretical viewpoints. This multidimensional analysis has unveiled facets of previously overlooked issues, thereby refining our theory of change and enhancing the solutions we offer to the children in our care and other stakeholders. The diverse perspectives of different stakeholders have been instrumental in this process. 

One of the significant challenges in creating social change, compared to business, is the extended timeline and complexity, often exacerbated by funding constraints. The research insights from the course have been invaluable in helping me coach our team and investors on the patience required in our endeavours. The longitudinal data and research presented in the programme have provided evidence-based support for the necessity of sustained efforts and long-term commitments, which I can now demonstrate without relying solely on anecdotal evidence. 

Moreover, the concept of extra-preneurship, which I have begun to explore, is a direct result of the frameworks introduced in the course. I am currently working on scaling our model by integrating multiple entities through a digital platform. This innovative approach is structured using the frameworks and theories studied, allowing for a more cohesive and impactful implementation of our model at a larger scale.  

Lastly, my experiences of living in both the global north and south, coupled with my origins in the global south, have enriched my perspective and allow me to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on OVC, bringing a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in different contexts. The programme has helped me think through these insights more effectively, ensuring my own contributions can informed and impactful. 

In summary, the MSt in Social Innovation at Cambridge, through the strong programme leadership, faculty and an amazing group of peers has enhanced my approach to creating social change making it deeper, more patient & skilful, and hopefully the most impactful it has ever been.